Permanency Support Program

**About Challenge**

Our vision is we aim to create a world where everybody belongs and everybody grows.

Our mission is to assist people to reach their potential through innovative and people-focused services.

Challenge Community Services now has 103 sites across NSW and QLD and a workforce of over 900 people, including more than 90 employees with a disability. Challenge Community Services is now the fourth largest provider of out-of-home care in NSW providing foster care services to over 500 children

**The Role**

As a PSP Practice Specialist you will be expected to undertake a range of functions, to achieve results in line with the permanency planning principles and the broader organisation's goals. Amongst these functions, will be the provision of support and expert advice to multi-disciplined stakeholders including of Caseworkers, Manager Caseworkers, Carer Compliance Officers, Carer Compliance Managers, Supervised Contact Workers and Supervised Contact Team Leaders by delivering specialised assistance as required.

The provision of specialised assistance requires research into contemporary practice, development of practice frameworks, the provision of expert advice and the delivery of training. PSP Practice Specialists are required to exercise a high level of interpersonal skills when working with stakeholders and when representing Challenge in the community.

The PSP Practice Specialist will ensure that the organisation is meeting its requirements with regard to policy, procedure and be responsive to sector changes as required. An integral expectation of the role is a sound knowledge of guidelines and/or statutory requirements relevant to the Permanency Support Program.

This role requires travel within NSW and on occasion, nationally according to the needs of the organisation. This role may also require you to work outside of normal business hours.

**Who are we looking for?**

We are looking for someone is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. You're also:

- Empathetic and committed to playing your part in improving the lives of children and young people
- Able to understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times
- Resilient
- you know sometimes things don't always go to plan but you're happy to be flexible and adaptable regardless
- Able to understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times
- Ability to work as part of a team and with mínimal supervision.

**What are the Essentials?**
- Relevant tertiary or diploma qualifications in Human services related areas
- Significant experience working with vulnerable children and young people, their carers and their families.
- Knowledge of, and ability to interpret and uphold relevant legislation, NSW Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care and the Permanency Support Program.
- Demonstrated experience in undertaking research to inform best practice approaches to casework, carer support and working with families.
- Knowledge of project design and experience in the implementation of program frameworks, including developing strategies for implementation of practice frameworks
- Demonstrated ability to be adaptable to changing circumstances and organisational requirements, and contribute to the needs of a rapidly expanding organisation.
- Demonstrated high standard of written and verbal communication.
- Excellent computer literacy skills in MS Office suite of products.
- Ability and willingness to travel to different parts of the state as needed
- Unencumbered driver's license
- NSW Working with Children's Check
- NDIS Workers Screening Check
- Covid 19 Vaccinations

**Desirable Criteria**
- Knowledge of evidence-based frameworks such as Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and Children and Residential Experiences (CARE)
- Training and Assessment (TAE) qualification

**The Benefits to working with Challenge Community Services?**
- Competitive pay rates based on qualifications and or experience.
- Increase your take home pay Salary Package up to $15,900 tax free pay per fringe benefit year.
- Entertainment/Meal Card. You can use up to $2,650 of your pre-tax income per year in addition to your tax-free limit for living expenses.
- Novated lease
- when you package your car, you pay a portion of the vehicle's costs out of your salary before tax is calculated. This reduces your taxable income and effectively increases your take-home pay.
- Negotiated extra leave, buy EXTRA annual leave that you can take or even get paid out as a saving incentive.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Annual Flu Vaccination
- Day Off on your Birthday
- Job satisfaction - helping to make a difference in the lives of young children in care.

**How to apply**

All applicants must be willing to undergo a National Police Check and hold a valid Working with Children's Check (or willing to obtain) as part of the recruitment process.

**Closing Date: 27th Novembe